Senate Ballot Papers for Sale....

[nui]

Kevin Rafter's article in the Tribune today further illustrates the need for reform in the NUI and Trinity panels. Mind you offering Euro 250 for his two ballot papers seem a little on the steep side, although it is to go to charity!!

I know many candidates have been looking for changes. This has proven to be a hard fight as there is no incentive to the outgoing senators to seek reforms of any kind. Hopefully the meeting between Minister Gormley and Martin Hogan, Brendan Price, Linda O'Shea Farren and Sean O'Connor tomorrow on the issue will yield some of the results we are looking for.


www.martinhogan.ie

[Gary Carter]

Did you see David Norris's whingey letter to the Indo on Friday ? You'd think the idea that there was something wrong with the electoral lists had just dawned on him. How long's he been a senator now ?

[nui]

Yes, I am afraid that is pretty much the standard response from the outgoing Senators from Trinity and the NUI. If they can get elected by a small "clique" of people they have taught, know personally, have done business with or their union officials have got their members to "vote the right way", why would they have any interest in making the system more democratic?

[jerryp]

Just saw that on Tribune, apart from Senate reform issue, etc. , surely selling a ballot paper is illegal.

[nui]

I'd say there is a clause about selling your ballot papers somewhere in the small print alright. I can't imagine it will win him too many friends in the Trinity or NUI registrars offices either...but it does illustrate how much the system needs to be reformed if it to be credible in any way..

[KingKane]

Martin, if you don't mind me asking why all the secrecy over what the meeting is about?

[nui]

No secrecy at all Daniel. Its a meeting between the 4 candidates above and John Gormley about the need to act with regard to reforming the Seanad. Why do you feel that a publicised meeting with a Minster is secretive?

I think most people agree the way the Seanad elections are handled has to change.

www.martinhogan.ie

[Gary Carter]

I forgot to add that I, too, was under the impression that selling your vote was illegal. But I guess that this election is a joke anyway and it's no harm folks highlighting the fact.

[Rebelman]

Just saw that on Tribune, apart from Senate reform issue, etc. , surely selling a ballot paper is illegal.

I would suspect it is but your best road to go down if you wished to challenge it would be under this section of the 1992 Electoral Act which amend s the 1937 legislation, because the crime would actually be personation by the third party involved and the sale would have directly facilitated this.

166.—The Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act, 1937 is hereby amended by—


( a ) the substitution of the following section for section 25:


"Application of Electoral Act, 1992.


25.—(1) Sections 57, 134, 135, 136, 138, 139, 140, 144, 145,149, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 160 and 163 of the Electoral Act, 1992 shall apply to elections in university constituencies and for that purpose, in the said sections of that Act—


( a ) every reference to 'Dáil election' and 'election' shall be construed and have effect as a reference to an election in a university constituency;


( b ) every reference to the 'register of Dáil electors' shall be construed and have effect as a reference to the register of electors in respect of a university constituency;


( c ) every reference to 'Dáil elector' and 'elector' shall be construed and have effect as a reference to an elector in a university constituency;


( d ) every reference to 'constituency' shall be construed and have effect as a reference to a university constituency;


( e ) the reference in sections 139 and 151 to a period of time shall be construed and have effect as a reference to the period commencing on the date of the order appointing dates and times at a Seanad election and ending at the close of the poll at such election.


(2) In addition and without prejudice to the provisions of the foregoing subsection of this section, every statutory provision for the time being in force relating to bribery, personation or other offences at elections of members of Dáil Éireann shall apply to elections in university constituencies as if these elections were elections of members.

[KingKane]

No secrecy at all Daniel. Its a meeting between the 4 candidates above and John Gormley about the need to act with regard to reforming the Seanad. Why do you feel that a publicised meeting with a Minster is secretive?

I think most people agree the way the Seanad elections are handled has to change.

www.martinhogan.ie

Martin, you're getting very good at answering questions that were not asked, I asked about the secrecy around what the meeting is about, not secrecy about that a meeting is being held. As you well know, we were all sent a email by one of the candidates on Friday last which suggested a briefing would be held on Monday to tell us all about what appeared to be new information concerning the registers and the conduct of the voting for TCD and the NUI. Then we were informed that the minister had agreed to meet a delegation (selected no one knows how) comprising of yourself, Brendan, Linda and Sean O'Connor.

If there anything specifically new going to be raised at this meeting or is it purely a means for you, Linda and Brendan to get publicity for a voting pact? Fair dues as it is a good wheeze if it is the latter. If the former then like I asked why the secrecy?

I would say I have stronger hopes that John will take steps to put in place reforms than I would were the office holder a member of either of the other government parties, but I would temper that by wondering why he should seek your views (the 4 of you) at this time if it weren't primarily for publicity purposes. You're not suggesting for example that he would be open to altering the system while the campaign is under way? It's a photo op pure and simple.